ECE 110/120 Honors Lab Section : Sun Tracking Solar Panel

Statement of Purpose

Concrete goals: Design a system that self optimizes the amount of sunlight absorbed by the panel based on the position of the sun. Track and collect data based on different orientations and energy outputs.

Goals of application: To work towards combating the biggest current obstacle with using electrical energy, the comparably low energy production rate.

Background Research

• Significantly less renewable energy usage in comparison to other methods of generation
• Real world efficiency rates, production rates, and conversion efforts
• Integrating the already existing power grid

Block Diagram/Flow Chart

System Overview

Solar Panel - Energy from the sun is converted to electrical energy through photovoltaic cells. This will be used to charge a phone and a sun tracking circuit.

Step Down Voltage Converter - It will take a higher input voltage and convert it to a lower output voltage for the Battery Charger Module. This is necessary because the Battery Charger Module only takes an input of 5V. Also a voltmeter which displays the voltage of the solar panel.

Battery - There will be 4x 18650 Lithium Ion batteries connected in parallel by the battery holder. Each battery has 3.7V and a charge of 2500mAh. Stores electrical energy.

Battery Charger Module - Takes in energy from the solar panel and is able to use it to charge the battery. Also it has 2 Usb outputs both at 5v which will be for the circuit and to charge a phone. There is a  prevention function to prevent over-discharge, over-charge, and overload. Also a LED screen to indicate how much battery is left.

Arduino Uno R3 - This is programmed to take in information given by the LDR to control the movement of the solar panel. This is powered by the Battery Charger Module.

Horizontal Servo - Rotates the solar panel to the left or right.

Vertical Servo - Rotates the solar panel up or down.

LDR (TL, TR, BR, BL) - The sensor array will be attached close to the solar panel. As light falls on a LDR the resistance of that LDR will fall. This change is picked up by wire connecting to the Arduino. So if the Bottom Left LDR has light shone onto it then it will go down and left.

Parts

Possible Challenges

• Inconsistent results based on non controlled extraneous variables

• Confounding variables
• Flaws in circuit design of purchased parts
• Low voltage reading from solar panel
• Incomplete connections/short circuits through the photo-resistor array
• Building the mount to rotate solar panel on two servos (horizontal and vertical)

• Low voltage inputs not activating the design process

References

1. (2021). Retrieved 20 September 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkV3xCrZAqc

   (2021). Retrieved 20 September 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP6gO19t2pk

   (2021). Retrieved 20 September 2021, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg3fhdAnp9I

   Solar Tracker Arduino Project - Clean Energy Institute. (2021). Retrieved 20 September 2021, from https://www.cei.washington.edu/education/lesson-plans-resources/solar-tracker-arduino-project/

   Sun Tracking Solar System. (2021). Retrieved 20 September 2021, from https://create.arduino.cc/projecthub/Mayur_r/sun-tracking-solar-system-52cc68